If at first you don’t succeed, try again. This appears to be the motto that Volkswagen is taking with regards to its ultra-luxury sedan, the Phaeton.
The Phaeton was an excellent vehicle, the perfect demonstration of what an automaker with brilliant engineers can do if it chooses not to concern itself with budget constraints. Built with immaculate precision, the highest quality and newest technology, the Phaeton was a truly impressive vehicle. The only problem is that it was a sales flop. It failed to capture the North American market due to image-related problems. Consumers didn’t feel compelled to invest considerable amounts of money in an entry-level brand that also produces Golfs, Jettas and Beetles. But just because the Phaeton didn’t make it in North America doesn’t mean that it’s a dud elsewhere in the world. In other markets, including its home country of Germany, it recently received a mid-cycle update that focused on appearances and technology similar to the changes made to the Touareg 2. And that mild facelift makes it clear that Volkswagen is getting ready to bring the next generation Phaeton to market in a couple of years.